The News From Israel

01.07.13

Has The Third Intifada Begun?

"We may not be facing thousands of demonstrators storming border fences with AK-47s, but that doesn’t diminish the seriousness of the situation."--(Gush) Etzion Sector Commander Colonel Yaniv Alaluf told soldiers the Third Intifada has begun.

Case dropped against Israeli teen suspected of firebombing Palestinian taxi - Jerusalem District Attorney decides to close the case due to 'lack of evidence', even though the 13-year-old suspect's DNA was found on a glove in a forensic sweep at the scene of the crime. The cab caught fire, leaving its passengers – six members of a single family – seriously wounded. (Haaretz+)

Sleeping with the enemy: Shin Bet censured for 'exhausting' interrogation technique - A military judge has reprimanded the Shin Bet for failure to document that suspect was so tired that he fell asleep in his chair. (Haaretz+)

Lod's Arab residents fear influx of Jewish 'settlers' will drive them out - Many Arab residents of this mixed city fear their new religious neighbors' goal is to drive them out - a claim the 'settlers' vehemently deny. (Haaretz+)

Netanyahu probed last year for allegedly accepting money from businessman - No criminal investigation opened following initial police check; Justice Ministry confirms such investigation was underway last year, says police concluded that there wasn't enough evidence to warrant a criminal probe. (Haaretz+)

Rabbi Ovadia: We will leave the country if we are drafted – Responding to the possibility that young ultra-Orthodox will be drafted to the IDF, Shas’ spiritual leader said: “We will have to leave the country in order to free our yeshiva boys, we are surrounded by haters.” (Maariv, p. 16/NRG Hebrew)

Inclusion of German journalist on anti-Semitic rhetoric list stirs criticism - Central council of Jews in Germany and others defend Jakob Augstein, who was ranked ninth on the Simon Wiesenthal Center's list of anti-Semitic and anti-Israel rhetoric. (Haaretz+)

Palestinian PM Fayyad slams Arab donors for failing to deliver aid to PA - Fayyad warns that the Palestinian Authority's unprecedented financial crisis could quickly double the number of poor to 50 percent of a population of roughly 4 million. (Agencies, Haaretz)